Coronavirus: UAE daily figures drop to lowest level in a week

A further 275 new cases were recorded on Monday, a significant reduction on recent figures

Two-year-old Aris wears a face shield at Al Wahda Mall, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

Syrian volunteers distribute face masks to passengers on a government bus as part of precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in Damascus. EPA

Kaashvi, 3, wears a mask along with her father as they arrive at Al Wahda Mall, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

People enjoy themselves near the Bosphorus on sunset in Istanbul, Turkey. EPA

A lady sprays perfume in Mall of the Emirates, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Syrian volunteers distribute masks to passengers at station as part of precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in Damascus, Syria. EPA

People sit in their cars during the official opening of Amman International Film Festival in the first drive-in cinema in Amman, Jordan. Reuters

Jordanians sit in their cars at their country's first drive-in cinema, which opened with the French film 'Les Miserables' by Ladj Ly, at a car park in New Abdali district in the capital Amman. AFP

A woman buys fresh dates from a street vendor in the Libyan capital Tripoli. AFP

A man uses disinfecting gel at the entrance of a shop in the Libyan capital Tripoli. AFP

Charlie, 3, plays in his Little Tykes car with his PPE mask on in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A young Iraqi is sprayed with disinfectant on his arrival to take part in a mourning ritual, as Shiite Muslims prepare to commemorate Ashura during the Islamic month of Muharram, in the central city of Karbala. AFP

An Iraqi man has his temperature checked as he arrives to take part in a pre-Ashura ritual, in the central shrine city of Karbala. AFP

People wearing face masks walk near the Bosphorus at sunset in Istanbul, Turkey. EPA

The UAE recorded 275 coronavirus cases on Monday, its lowest daily tally for a week.

A further 94 patients have beaten the virus, pushing the number of overall recoveries to 58,582.

One more patient died after contracting Covid-19 as the death toll in the Emirates rose to 376.

The latest infections bring the country's number of cases to 67,282.

An additional 71,282 tests were conducted during the reporting period.

More than 6.5 million tests have been carried out since the outbreak began.

The latest figures represent a significant reduction in infection rates, which have been on the rise over the past week.

After recording only 210 new cases last Sunday and 229 on Monday, the number of infections increased to 461 by Thursday.

Officials announced 390 new cases on Sunday.

The surge in infection rates has prompted officials to urge the public to renew their commitment to safety measures and ensure the country is not hit by a second wave of rising cases.

On Sunday, Obaid Al Shamsi, director general of the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority, said restrictions could be stepped up to tackle the pandemic.

Authorities would initially seek to contain the spread of the virus in localised hotspots, such as a building or a particular community, before considering wider restrictions, such as closing shops and malls and a return to the national disinfection programme.

"The spread, through a point such as an area or building, will be isolated and quarantined and the sterilisation will take place in that area," Mr Al Shamsi said.

He urged residents to play their part in preventing the spread of the virus or risk a second wave of rising infections.

"We need to be aware that the UAE strategy is a balance between the health sector and the economy," he said.

"People think that by opening the economy, the pandemic is over. It is not over. And if we neglect it, then we will face a second wave."